Chronic venous insufficiency

Your arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body, and your veins return the blood back to your heart. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when your veins cannot pump enough blood back to your heart.

Risk factors

The risk for chronic venous insufficiency increases greatly with age. It is most common in people age 50 or older. Other risk factors include:

• a family history of varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis
• being overweight 
• being physically inactive
• smoking

Symptoms

Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency include leg swelling, aching, heaviness or cramping in your legs.